Column-clamp.



C. M. MARKHAIVI.

COLUMN CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25, I9I5.

Patented July 2, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I WWWW m yw,

m: NcRms rzrzns co.. mwmunm. umsumcmm n. c.

c; MQMARKHAM.

COLUMN CLAMP. APPLICATION FILED OCT- 25, 1915.

Patented m 2, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- O vI II I m: mums nsrzns 0a.. PHDYD-LIINQ. WASUYNO mu. 0. c.

1V1. MARKHAIVI, QF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

cor un-oL r/ir.

natures Specifieationof Letters Patent.

P e ted WM W Application filed October 25, 1915. Serial No. 57,657.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES ,M. MARK- HAM, a citizen ofthe United States residing at Milwaukee, in the county ofiMilwaukee and State of llvisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements' in Column-Clamps, of whichthe following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to adjustable metal clamps for-"binding, and holding in place; the sections or parts of polygonal columns or forms for molding concrete columns or the like.

Its main objects are totacilitate the construction of such columns and forms; to

avoid waste of lumber in the construction of forms for concrete columns or the, like; and generally to 7 improve the construction and operation of clamps of this class.

It consists in the construction, arrange ment and combination ofparts as hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing like char acters designate the same parts in the sev eral figures.

Figure 1 is a plan View of a column clamp embodying the invention as adjusted and applied to an octagonal column or form which is shown in cross section, parts of the clamp being broken away yFig; 2 is an outside edge view or elevation of one of the auxiliary bar members of the column; Fig. 3 llS 2LSl1 11ll'2t1 Vl(-%W 'of'one of the forked clips for adjustably connecting the auxiliary bar" members with the mainbar members of the clampglFi-g. 4: is a similar View of the looped or slotte'den'd of one of the main? bar members;,Fig. 5 is a side view orfelevation of the lever or special toolforforci'ng the n'i-ainbar members of theclamp into adjusted position on a column or form; Fig, 6 is a view similar to.Fig..l, of a modification oftheclamp asadjusted and applied to asquare column or form which isshown in cross section, parts of the clamp being broken away; Fig'. 7 is an outside" edge view or elevation of one ot the bar members"; and Fig. 8' is a view as seen}, fronrthe right relativeto Fig. 6-,,o'f the lever or special tool for a clamp of the modified form.

ReterringtdFi-gs. lIto- 5 inclusive, the clamp as shown comprises a number, in the ing oted on a pin or rivet 7*,

present case four, main bar members a, which are like or similar in construction, each consisting of a straight fiat metal bar. Each of the members a; has a transverse slot b,passi11g throughitrfrom side to sideadjacent to one end thereof, in which another like or similar bar member is inserted and adjusted lengthwise in assembling'the parts of the clamp. This slot may be conveniently formed as shown,by riveting two plates or bars 0 of the same cross section to the opposite taces of the bar a at one endand lengthwise thereof, and riveting between the outer ends of the plates or bars 0 a spacplate or block d of the same thickness or cross section, as shown in Fig; 4. j

Within and adjacent to the inner end of the slot 7) of each member a, a dog 6 is pivpassing, through and secured in the plates or bars 0. The outer end of the dog is curved eccentrically to its pivot and is toothed or milled so as to engage'with the inner edge of an adjoining member inserted through the slot Z), and to grip said member tightly betweenthe dog and the outerend of the slot formed by the spacing block or plate cZ,,there-by locking the member provided with theadog against outward movement on the other member engaged thereby.-

The ,dogse are formed adjacent to their outer ends and sides with holes 9 to receive a hook or other instrument for pulling them outward to release and'disconne'ct the members of the clamp,

F or a square column or form, the clamp has four like or similar members a, disposed at right angles 'to one another, as shown inFig. 1. For columns and forms of other polygonal shapes, the number and angular arrangement of the members of the clamp may be varied accordingly.

A clamp having four members for a squareorrectangular column or form, may be easily adapted for use with. an octagonal column or form. "To this end the clamp is provided, in addition tothe four main members a, with four like or similar auxiliary bar members h, as shown inFig. 1. Each ofthe members it is preferably made of a straight flat bar having the same cross sectionas the main members a, andqprovided at one end with a fork having its crotch disposed obliquely to the sides of the member, for example, at an angle oflorty-five degrees, for converting a square or rectangular clamp into an octagonal clamp. This fork may be conveniently formed by an angular casting or forging 2', riveted to one side of the bar member it, the adjacent end of which forms a branch of the fork, as shown in Fig. .2. The forks at the ends of the auxiliary members it are adapted to embrace the inner sides or edges of the main members a, the forks being made of sufiicient span or width to receive the three thicknesses of which the looped or slotted ends of the main members are composed. Between their ends the auxiliary members it are adjustably fastened to the adjoining main members a by forked clips j, adapted to fit over and embrace both members and formed'with a wedge-shaped crotch 7c, fitting into the angle between the members, the faces of the wedge in a clamp for octagonal columns or forms being at an angle of fortyfive degrees to each other. The clips j, with the auxiliary members it, are secured in place on the main members a by set screws Z, threaded in one of the arms of each clip and adapted to engage with one of the members and to clamp them tightly together.

For tightening or forcing the members of the clamp when they are assembled on a column or form m, as shown in Fig. 1, a special tool is provided, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, consisting of a lever a, pivoted by a pin o in a lateral forked arm or projection of a grip p, which is removably fitted and adjustable on the main bar members a. The hole or slot through the grip p is inclined or oblique to its sides, as shown in Fig. 1, so that when pressure is applied to the lever n to force the members of the clamp into place against a column or form, the grip will cramp or bind and be held against slipping on the member a to which it is applied, but

when the pressure on the lever is released, the grip can be freely adjusted on the bar member or removed therefrom.

The main bar members a are adjusted and tightened in place on the column or form m by means of the lever 92, which is shifted from one member to another, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. As the slotted end of each of the members a is forced by the lever a toward and against the column or form m, it is locked and held in its adjusted position by the dog 6, which is turned inwardly into engagement with the adjacent edge of the adjoining member a, the dog at the opposite end of said member being also engaged with the member a on the opposite side of the column or form, so that the effect is to simultaneously draw or force opposite parallel members of the clamp against opposite sides of the column or'form.

The auxiliary members it, when used, are adjusted to position on the column or form by driving or forcing the inclined crotches of the forks i and the wedge-shaped crotehes is of the clips j into place on the main members a. The auxiliary members h are then secured in position by tightening the set screws Z.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, showing a modification of the clamp as applied to a square column or form m, the slots 5 are shorter than the slots Z) of the first described clamp, and the dogs instead of being fitted in the slots are removably and adjustably mounted on the bar members (1 adjacent to the outer sides of slotted ends of the adj oining members through which they pass. The shanks of these dogs are like or similar in construction to grip p, which constitutes the fulcrum piece of the lever 11, and lit loosely and pivot slightly on the bar members a, so that when the dogs are subjected to pressure or strain by engagement with the sides of the adjoining members, they will tightly grip the members on which they are mounted, but when they are relieved of such pressure or strain, their grip will be released and the may be turned slightly and freely, shifted lengthwise of said members, or re moved therefrom.

The dogs are formed with lateral offsets g at one end for engagement with the outer sides of the slotted ends of the adjoining members a, as shown in Fig. 6.

In other respects this form of the clamp is substantially like the other in construction and operation, and may be provided with auxiliary bar members 71. like or similar to those shown in Fig. 1 for adapting it to columns or forms having a greater number of sides and angles, such as octagonal columns or forms.

With the dogs 6 constructed and arranged as shown in Fig. 6, a somewhat different tightening lever or tool is used. The lever 7b is extended beyond its pivot or fulcrum pin 0 and the lateral arm or projection of the grip 2) to which it is pivoted or fulcrumed is made longer and spaced farther from the hole or slot in the grip, so that the lever may be reversed in its application to the clamp from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1, and the shorter arm of the lever will engage with the slotted end of the member a adjacent to the inner side of the member which passes through it and with which the lever is connected.

In adjusting this clamp to a column or form with the lever n, after forcing the slotted end of each member a into place it is locked in adjusted position by crowding the dog 6' forward tightly against it. The lever is then shifted to another member and so on until all the members are properly adjusted and tightened on the column or form.

Various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be narrates made without departure from the principle and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A column clamp comprising a number of similar and separable bar members, each having adjacent to one end a transverse slot adapted to receive an adjoining member disposed transversely thereto and freely movable lengthwise in working position therein, a locking dog adapted by frictional engage ment with each member to hold it against withdrawal lengthwise from an adjoining member, and separate means for forcing the slotted end of each member lengthwise of an adjoining member toward the opposite member.

2. A column clamp comprising a number of similar bar members each having a transverse slot adjacent to one end thereof through which another member is freely adjustable lengthwise in working position, a dog adapted to lock each member in adjusted relation to an adjoining member, a friction.

grip removably fitted on and adjustable lengthwise of each of the several members, and a lever pivotally connected with said grip and adapted by engagement with the slotted end of an adjacent member to force it into adjusted position on the member passing through it.

3. A column clamp comprising a number of main bar members each having a transverse slot adjacent to one end thereof through which another member is adjustable lengthwise, means for locking the members in adjusted relation to one another, a number of auxiliary bar members each having a fork at one end to embrace the side of a main member obliquely thereto, and forked clips provided with screws for adjustably connecting the auxiliary members at a distance from their forked ends with adjoining main members obliquely thereto.

a. A column clamp comprising a number of main bar members each having a transverse slot adjacent to one end through which another of said members is adjustable lengthwise, dogs for locking said members in adjusted relation to one another, a number of auxiliary bar members each having a fork with an inclined crotch adapted to embrace one side of a main member obliquely thereto, and forked clips with wedgeshaped crotches adapted to embrace and adjustably connect the auxiliary members with the adjoining main members obliquely thereto, the wedge-shaped crotches of the clips fitting into the angles between the main and auxiliary members.

In witness whereof 1 hereto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES M. MARKHAM. Witnesses:

Gems. 1L. Gross, Amos E. Goes.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

, Washington, JD. t3. 

